Home Improvement

“that's the thing...i don't think it's ever just blowing air...i think it's always blowing cooled air

i should have ran outside to see if the condinser was on but i didn't think about it till just now
last edited: 8/21/08 5:45:32 AM”

“Is it a programmable thermostat?”

“no...i've been thinking about getting one for a while so i'm thinking of just getting one and if it's the thermostat then problem solved but if it's not at least i'll have the new stat that i've been wanting for a while anyway”

“Just got a paved driveway put in. Does that count as home improvement?”

“thrifty - don't think about it. Just do it. Definitely worth it!!”

“already got it...picked it up on my lunch break...fingers crossed...from some of the research i've done online, since it's cold air all the time the "experts" say it's probably the stat or the stat wiring”

“So I finally got one side of the fence done.
Now I get to work on the other side of the house.

Photo is a link to the rest of the album.

last edited: 9/22/08 9:22:57 AM”

“That grass looks like it could use some rain.

Nice fence”

“The lawn could use a lot of help.”

“you might wanna move that tree while it's still small enough...it'll push the fence over when it starts to get fuller”

“Looks good Mike.”

“did you put up that fence to keep me out or to keep mother nature in?

oh, btw, looks great!”

“I tried to move the tree but it wasn't happening without cutting so many roots that it would kill it so I'll just have to prune when it becomes an issue.

I put it up to protest that song. Next I'm going to get a sign that says "Illiterates Keep Out"”

“Did I detect a Beatles ref in there? Nice.”

“If it makes me look smarter/wittier I'll say yes.”

“I don't guess Mother Nature's Son is really a protest song, so I'm probably reaching a bit.”

“I love the fence and the pond looks awesome! The glass tiles on the waterfall are gorgeous. You guys have been working hard!”

“The other side of the fence is now done.
Now I need to think about the gates but for now I'll just leave them open.

”

“That is nice, however if Obama wins, it will probably be burned to the ground.”

“We finished our fence a while back and finally got the house insulated just in time for winter.

I decided I don't like older homes, lol.”

“Looks like the gfi breaker for the master bedroom/ bathroom blew. Oh, fun. It'll be my petzl headlamp lighting the way at 5 am tomorrow morning. :P I've noticed a slight flicker to the lights in the bedroom and bathroom for the last 2 months or so.

The funny part is that the light over the toilet is on a separate breaker for whatever reason. I guess I could call that a saving grace.”

“It's times like this that a 24 hour Super Wal-Mart comes in handy. Just go buy another and replace.”

“The wally world closest to us doesn't carry breakers. I have to go to the Despot instead this morning. Bleah.”

“Yeah, I live in a 1913 bungalow with closets the size of a refridgerator box and no lighting. Headlamp every morning for me. One of these days...”

“How did the breaker replacement go, treebait?”

“Hedelmäkakku & rsymste”

“I picked up a new breaker, but I haven't messed with it yet.”

“Let's not have any shocking trip report about the breaker replacement, please.”

“oh ha ha. ;/”

“replaced my door bell yesterday...thought "ahh, it's low voltage, no need to trip the breaker"...about 5 minutes into it i forgot about it and got a nice jolt...nearly pissed myself”

“It's amperage that does the killing not voltage. Given the right conditions a 9V battery could put out enough current to kill a person. Please make sure you shut off the power before working any anything electrical.”

“well, it didn't really hurt...just startled me, or should i say "shocked" me?”

“Calling contractors now about having new roof. I know the basics but have never had any experiences.

Anything I need to be leary of?”

“if they ask you what your wife looks like, don't hire them”

“One just met with her. She sounded a lot better than she did this morning.”

“get the Cobra ridge vents instead of the old turtle vents. They help out ALOT on heating/cooling, and may help on tax credits in your state. If you can get the 30 year arc shingles, look better, help resale.

You can save money on cheap felt, it's only a protectant if it rains while they are installing the roof (after the shingles the felt has millions of holes right??).

Also, try to find a roofer that does not nail boards into your decking for the workers while they are installing, you want "bottlecap" roofing nails (for them to walk/stand), and rope supported workers.

Check your screens and gutters after/during installation, get them to reimburse you for any they damage. Screens can get hit when they throw pieces down.

You paying or is your insurance?”

“I am paying.

Those ridge vents will probably push the cost past what I want to spend.”

“He lives in the North, OPIE. Cooling isn't as much as an issue for him.”

“I am a Yankee”

“Ridge vents help the roof last longer. GAF warranty is voided without adequate ventilation. Others prolly are too.

The cost of materials for 40 or 50 year architecural shingles is nearly the same as for 30 year. They are more effort to work with though.”

“HPM replaced the breaker; it still ground out. Turns out to be a poorly installed wire on one of the light switches in the bathroom. All fixed now, and no shocks. OTOH, HPM didn't wear a dust mask up in the attic and now has a nasty, wheezing cough. He really hates blown-in insulation.”

“So I've been looking at insulative foam for further home insulation, and found these guys. I love the list of applications for this stuff. Especially the last one. ;)

http://www.foampower.com/products/slow_rise.html”

“One of 4 estimates in hand now. $4,800 to do job, includes the construction of the ridge vent.

Should get another today , then 2 tomorrow.

25 year alge(SP), wind and freeze proof shingles”